The Washington State Department of Transportation announced that fish‑passage construction will begin March 9 along State Route 109 between Taholah and Moclips. According to the agency’s statement, crews will replace culverts at five separate locations to improve salmon and steelhead migration at stream crossings on the northern Olympic Peninsula. The work is part of the state’s long‑running effort to correct barriers that impede fish passage under state highways, following court‑mandated habitat restoration requirements.

SR 109 is outside Cowlitz County, but the corridor is a regular travel route for Longview and Kelso residents headed toward the north coast for recreation, fishing, or tribal community events. WSDOT noted in its announcement that drivers should expect periodic lane reductions and short delays while construction is underway. The agency indicated that specific daily traffic impacts will be posted on its travel advisory channels as schedules are finalized.

In its release, accessible at WSDOT’s official website, the department states that the project is intended to open additional upstream habitat for multiple fish species. Fish‑passage corrections have been an ongoing statewide priority, with similar work underway or planned across Southwest Washington, including along state highways that connect to the I‑5 corridor.

Construction on SR 109 is scheduled to begin March 9, though WSDOT advises that weather or on‑site conditions could affect the pace of work as crews move from site to site along the roadway.

Why this matters

Although the project is not within Cowlitz County, the SR 109 corridor is heavily used by residents traveling from the Longview–Kelso area to coastal destinations. The fish‑passage effort also reflects the broader statewide program that continues to shape budget priorities, transportation planning, and habitat restoration across Western Washington.